First Reading of the Bill for the Amendment of the Income Tax Act (134 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-01-17 18:39
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 8
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 4m
AI Summaries: 8/8 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the first reading of Draft Act 134 on the amendment of the Income Tax Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Leo Kunnas and Anti Poolamets. According to Annely Akkermann's explanation, the purpose of the draft act was to keep the income tax rate for natural persons at 20% and to lower the income tax rate for legal persons to 12%. However, the initiator Anti Poolamets primarily used the presentation as a platform for sharp criticism of the government and its policies, focusing on the economic situation and national defense topics.
Poolamets accused the government of "squeezing" the population, referencing the green transition and energy prices. Furthermore, he paid great attention to the Reform Party's earlier activities aimed at liquidating the defense forces, personally criticizing Jürgen Ligi. He demanded repentance and proper investments in national defense, including the creation of armored maneuver capability and a tank battalion. Annely Akkermann, Chairman of the Finance Committee, briefly explained the actual content of the draft act and proposed rejecting it, as it had not found support in the committee.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu decided at the first reading to reject Bill 134 on the amendment of the Income Tax Act. Thirty-seven members of the Riigikogu voted in favor of the leading committee’s proposal, and nine members voted against. Consequently, the bill was dropped from the proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Anti Poolamets, the presenter of the draft bill. His stance was clearly oppositional and right-wing, directed against the policies of the government, and especially the Reform Party. Poolamets’s speech was exceptionally political, deviating from the topic of income tax to focus on sharp criticism of national defense and economic policy. He demanded that the government stop squeezing the rapidly impoverishing population and make immediate, large investments in defense capability.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Agenda item 27 is the first reading of Draft Act 134 on Amendments to the Income Tax Act, initiated by Leo Kunnas and Anti Poolamets. The Vice-President of the Riigikogu, Jüri Ratas, asked Anti Poolamets to serve as the rapporteur.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets argues that a 20% income tax is a reasonable figure given the current circumstances, but calls for an end to squeezing the poor due to the green transition and energy prices. He also recalls Jürgen Ligi's intention to dismantle the defense forces, noting that Leo Kunnas helped prevent this, and accuses the Reform Party of being behind such insane plans.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The presenter points out that Draft Law 134, which addresses the Income Tax Act, is currently under discussion.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets called for repentance and substantial investments in national defense, including the development of armored maneuver capability for at least one tank battalion—a project that may take decades, but which must be started immediately. He added that Jürgen Ligi could be forgiven (or granted absolution) if he undertakes this task.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that there were no questions, offered his thanks, and invited Annely Akkermann, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to deliver her report.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that the bill was not properly introduced in the Finance Committee, and the substance of the bill presented on May 11, 2023, was that personal income tax would remain at 20%, but corporate income tax would drop to 12%, and the committee decided to reject the bill.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that it was not recommended to open the debate, and he requested members take a position and vote to reject Bill 134, proposed by the lead committee, during the first reading.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
37 voted in favor, 9 against, there were no abstentions; Draft Act 134 has been rejected in the first reading and is dropped from the proceedings, and the 27th item on the agenda has been addressed.